Surname Lewy - Meaning and Origin
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Lewy: What does the surname Lewy mean?
The last name Lewy is a common Jewish surname meaning “belonging to a lion” or “loyal.” It probably originated from the Hebrew word "levi," which means lion. The surname is believed to have been derived from the personal name "Levi," which is a popular Jewish given name. The name has been known to be used in other cultures too, with variations in spelling, such as Levy, Loewy and Lewin, which suggest other possible etymologies.
The surname Lewy appears to have been used in Jewish communities throughout Europe for hundreds of years – documented evidence of Jewish bearers of the surname in Germany, Poland, and Hungary can be found in Jewish records going back to the late eighteenth century.
Jewish tradition links the surname Lewy to the Tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Legends about the tribe of Levi say that they were the guardians of the Israelite’s tabernacle during the time of Moses. The Tribe of Levi was known for its loyalty and dedication, which may explain why those who bear the surname Lewy are said to be loyal and trustworthy – an admirable characteristic for anyone to strive for.
The name Lewy is also associated with several notable Jewish figures, including Rabbi Moses Lewy, a prominent rabbi of 19th Century Hungary, and Harry Lewy, the Guberman-Yablonski mass murderer responsible for seven deaths in 1969 in New York City.
Today, the surname Lewy is still popular among Jewish families and is often found in countries around the world, from the United States to Israel, France to Germany. In the US alone, approximately 6,000 people bear the last name Lewy. It is a testament to the resilience of the Lewy family, that its former bearers are remembered and its legacy continues to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisLewy: Where does the name Lewy come from?
The last name Lewy is most common in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, which is believed to be the original homeland of the Lewy family. According to surname data from Forebears, Lewy is among the top 10 surnames in both Poland and Slovakia. It is also highly prevalent in Germany, Belgium, and Austria. Furthermore, Lewy can be found in smaller numbers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries across Europe.
As a result of migrations during World War II, many Lewys spread to other parts of the world such as South America, Israel, and Australia. With so many migrations, the Lewy name has spread globally, but is still most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, Lewy reportedly has more than 67,000 people with the surname. It is believed that the Lewy family name originated near the Polish-Lithuanian border and spread to other areas, likely propelled by the growth of the Jewish population in Poland in the 19th century.
The places where the Lewy surname is most commonly used reflect the family’s historical roots in Central and Eastern Europe. As more people of the Lewy lineage become global citizens, it is likely that name will continue to be seen in more and more countries.
Variations of the surname Lewy
Lewy is a surname of German and Jewish origin, most likely derived from the name Ludwig. Variants of this spelling include Lewi, Lewey, Lewy, Lewie, Lewey, Lewys, Lewiss, Lewess, and Lewissen. The Dutch spelling is Lewijn.
Common variants and alternate spellings of the surname Lewy include Lui, Luy, Luye, Lew, Lewes/Lews, Lewys, Lewins, Luyens, Lowy, Lewye, Levy, Leve, Levie, Levin, and Liev.
Surnames of a similar origin include Loewe, Löwe, Loewi, Loewy, Löwi, Lohwe, Lowi, Lowy, Löwy, Lawei, Louwe, Louwy, Louwyssen, and Leigh.
Lewis and Louis are also surnames derived from the same root name, Ludwig. Lewis is an anglicized version of Lewy that is common in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, while Louis is found in French-speaking countries.
Variants of Lewy in non-Western countries include Lovi, Lewa, Lowey, Luo, Loey, Lie, and Loh.
Famous people with the name Lewy
- Harry S. Lewy: a renowned virologist and professor of neuropsychiatry
- Bruno Lewy: a famous producer and music manager
- Jakob Lewy: a renowned German neurologist and psychiatry professor
- Gerd Lewy: a notable German-American painter
- Halina Lewy Breziner: a respected photomicrographer
- Franz Lewy: a famous philosopher in the early 20th century
- Otto Lewy: a notable architect
- Curt Lewy: a celebrated German filmmaker
- Jonathan Lewy: a well-known Israeli diplomat
- Alexis Lewy: an accomplished artist, painter, photographer, and stage designer.